Puzzle.



PATBNTED AUG. 8, 1905.

E. G. HOWLAND.

PUZZLE.

APPLICATION FILED H1B. 20.1905.

deff-fly. 2J.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PUZZLE.

Speccation of VLetters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1905.

Application filed February 20, 1905x Serial No. 246,392.

To @ZZ whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD CLYDE How- LAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Milford, in the county of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Puzzles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in puzzles; and it consists, essentially, of a cylindrical box having a bottom formed with a series of annular steps which lead upto acentral chamber which is inclosed by a wall exg cept for certain passages which communicate therewith from the upper step; and it consists, further, of a series of balls or shot and of pins placed at the mouth of the passages to said cen tral chamber to impede the entrance of the balls.

The object to be attained in the operation of the puzzle is to get the several shot into the central chamber.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a top plan view showing my puzzle device in approved form, and F ig. 2 is a cross-section of same on the line 2 2 of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawingsin details, A represents the base or bottom of my puzzle device, which is circular in form and from which extends around its periphery a vertical wall a', in which is secured a glass cover a2. The inner surface of the base of the box is formed into a series of concentric steps a3, which terminate at the top in an annular wall or ring which surrounds a hemispherical recess b, formed in the base. Communicating with the interior of this recess and perforatingthe said wall ai are a series of passages 7)', which are inclined downwardly from the uppermost step. At the entrance of each of these passages a pin c is fixed in a step and serves asa guard for such passages and adds to the difficulty of getting the shot OZ into the passages, and hence into the chamber b, which in practice will be designated the fort A number of shot Z or soldierswil1 be supplied, and the object is to get all of them into the fort through the passage-ways While I have shown the pins c only at the entrance to a passage, it will'be apparent that such pins may be placed at other points on the base of the puzzle, and thus render more difficult the solving or working of the puzzle.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-4 1; A puzzle consisting of a box having its bottom or base formed in a series of concentric steps leading from the lowest point in the bottom of the box to a central recess formed in the upper part of the bottom of the box, and having a series of passage-ways communicating with the interior of said recess, in combination with a plurality of balls adapted to be introduced into said recess through said passage-ways.

2. A puzzle consisting of a cylindrical box having a glass top or cover and having its bottom formed in a series of concentric steps leading from the lowest point in the bottom of the box to a central hemispherical chamber or recess formed in the body portion of said bottom, and having a series of inclined passage-ways communicating with the interior of said recess or chamber, in combination with a plurality of pins fixed in said steps, and a pluralityof shot adapted to movefreely on the bottom of said box and to be introduced into said recess through said passageways.

In testimony whereof I afhx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDVARD CLYDE HOWLAND.

IVitnesses:

J. H. MoREHoUsE, W. H. OsBoRNn. 

